It is fun cooking and experimenting with new recipes when HB is back. When he is away travelling, I usually eat simple, easy-to-make meals. HB was home this weekend, and we decided to try something more challenging.

We had decided earlier on to make a nice roast pork dish, and I figured pork loin would be a nice cut.

So for those of you who are feeling adventurous, do try this, it’s really yummy! Actually its not even all that challenging. Quite simple really, if you have all ingredients at hand.

Roast pork loin

The meat was really juicy and not dry as I thought it would be.

Baked potato wedges

This was HB’s effort (mostly 😛 ). He did the cutting and mixing of seasonings while I coated the wedges with the said seasoning. Now, I really love my potatoes, and this turned out REALLY yum. I think I could have finished the entire 4 potatoes myself!

Delizioso!

We coupled our meal with a glass of wine, and it was just like a meal in a restaurant, albeit 90% cheaper. 😛 The wine we had was a Chianti Classico, and it was quite mild. I think I am probably used to stronger tasting wines these days 😛 And no ma, that does NOT mean I am turning into an alcoholic. =________=

So, for those of you who may be interested, here’s the recipe for our Roast Pork Loin and Baked Potato Wedges.

2. Cut slits on loin about 4cm long and 2cm deep on both sides of loin.

3. Spread butter mixture all over loin and ESPECIALLY into the slits. (Use fingers for best results).

4. Place loin in a Ziploc bag and refrigerate overnight. (Do not freeze!)

5. Preheat oven.

6. Place loin on a roasting pan and pour wine all over it.

7. Roast for about 1 hour or so at 180 degrees celcius, depending on size of loin.

8. Baste with pan drippings every 20-30 minutes.

9. Let it rest in oven for about 10 minutes before serving.

Sit back and enjoy the aroma of roast pork and baked potato wedges wafting through the air. 🙂 I had actually wanted to steam some broccoli to go with this meal, but we realized that there is already too much for us to down 😛 So, we made do with grapes later on for fibre.

We polished off the potato wedges, and there’s about 1/5 of the loin left in the fridge. Excuse me while I go heat it up and have another wonderful meal. 😉

It is what I would like to believe anyway. Things have been going really well for me lately. After all the unbelievable trauma I had to go through, things really are looking up for me. I found (and married!) the love of my life. I cannot begin to describe how utterly happy I am with him. I moved to a beautiful country, I am actually enjoying learning Italian, and latest, I was offered a job.

It is when things are going so unbelievably well, that sometimes, you tend to worry that only something bad can happen next. Coz come on, He isn’t all THAT generous is He? He has got to spread some “goodness” to others too doesn’t He?

Today, I got a call from my dad. I called him back coz it’s cheaper that way. And I spoke to mum. She said that dad isn’t eating well. Just two to three spoons, and thats it. His cough is not getting better either. Sigh. The Big C takes its toll on dad, mum, everyone. 😦

It is also no secret that I miss Boo, my dog. Every corner I turn, I see (ugly!) dogs here. I can’t help but miss the little fella. I know that I have been ranting about Boo quite a bit, and you may wonder what the fuss is all about. Well, here’s the thing, he isn’t any ORDINARY dog. He’s molto, molto ADORABLE!

So, all you folks out there, presenttttting (*drumroll*) BOO!!!!

WATCHA LOOKING AT!!!

Oh, bother! Go away!!

Did I just hear someone say "walk"???

Here I am, thousands of miles away from home, wondering whether things will be ok.

I hope they will.

(Note: Pics of flowers, scenery were taken in Bukit Tinggi, Malaysia, in June 2008. Pics of Boo courtesy of the lazy sis who should send me more pics)

I know, I know. Everyone’s sick and tired of this whole campaigning thing that’s going on in the US. As for us, we have BBC and CNN on TV, thus I have been watching quite a bit of reporting on this whole campaign. Usually I am disinterested. But today, I happened to be watching Larry King on CNN, and he had a representative from the Democrats and another from the Republican. Also, he had a representative from Factcheck.org.

Factcheck claims to be “a nonpartisan consumer advocate for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. They monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews etc”.

So, Larry King chose a few statements/TV ads that both parties made to check its accuracy. And although both representatives were debating things out, in the end, the rep from Factcheck had the last say. And it seems to me that the Republicans made more inaccurate statements and claims than the Democrats did. Funnily enough, the topic of the show today was, “Why can’t politicians tell the truth”? 😛

I think they should ask our Malaysian clowns politicians back home. They ought to know best. 😛